Play Dough

Looking for an easy way to keep your kids busy on a rainy day?

Play dough is an easy, inexpensive activity that is enjoyed by children of many ages.

Here's a great recipe that uses common kitchen ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/3 cup salt
1 teaspoon cream of tartar (sold near the spices in most grocery stores)
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
several drops food colouring

Combine all ingredients in a pot over medium heat on the stove.  Stir until it heats up and holds together (about 8-10 minutes).  Let cool and enjoy!  Store play dough in an air tight container.  Usually last for a week or two, depending on frequency of use.

A double batch might be necessary to be shared with a brother or sister.  Make 2 separate batches of different colours and experiment with mixing colours!


Playing with play dough is an excellent way to strengthen fine motor skills (small muscles) which are necessary for printing, colouring and cutting with scissors.  The way to use play dough is only as limited as your imagination!
-Use a rolling pin and cookie cutters to cut out shapes
-Use an empty egg carton and roll play dough eggs to fill each section
-Mould play dough into letters to spell your child's name and family members names
-Use child size spoons and knives to "cook" a pretend play dough meal
-Use straws, dried pasta or small cars to extend your child's play

October Newsletter

Our October Kindergarten newsletter was sent home today!  Here's our update for this month.

Inquiry Projects

Throughout September we were busy working on our “Not a Box” project.  Some students have created cars, computers, printers, fire trucks and puppet theatres.  This inquiry has led to our next project which will be our focus in October.  The students demonstrated interest in creating music from found objects.  This inquiry began with students using wooden blocks as drums, guitars and microphones.  We are extending their thinking by introducing recycled and found materials to create a “rock band”.

Dramatic Play

In Room 104, the students have demonstrated interest in making pizza and serving pizza to their teachers and friends.  This month we will transform our dramatic play area into a pizza kitchen!

In Room 129, the students have demonstrated interest in pet stores.  They are making homes for their animals and writing advertisements for puppies.  We will continue to explore this topic throughout October.

Important Dates

October 11^th – PA Day (No School)

October 14^th – Thanksgiving (No School)

October 30^th – Photo Retakes

November 15^th – PA Day (No School)

November 23^rd – 50^th Anniversary Celebration

Halloween Party

For students who celebrate Halloween, costumes are welcome on October 31^st.  Costumes must not be longer than the child’s ankle to prevent tripping and face masks are not permitted.  Weapons that accompany costumes should be left at home.  Due to allergies and food restrictions we cannot accept ANY treats from home.  We will provide a special class treat for our class party. 

Pumpkins

Before Halloween, we will explore and investigate pumpkins as part of the natural environment.  We will carve a Jack ‘o Lantern and explore the pumpkin’s insides.

Outdoor Classroom

We begin each day with outdoor play.  Your child must be dressed appropriately for the weather at 8:40am.  As the colder weather approaches send coats, hats, gloves or mittens. 

Morning Routine

Our morning routine consists of unpacking our backpacks and storing lunches in the lunch bin.  These routines are important for developing independence.  It is very important to be on time for school so that your child learns these routines.

~Roywood Kindergarten Team 

Our Next Inquiry Topic

As we wrap up our "Not a Box" inquiry project and celebrate the students' fabulous creations we're moving towards our next project.  Several students have used classroom materials such as wooden blocks and sand toys in new and creative ways to create rhythms and music!  We're going to use recycled and found materials to create a "rock band" of new sounds.

Please send in any recycled or found materials that your child indicates could be an instrument.
For example:
-plastic bottles
-boxes
-cardboard tubes
-coffee cans or formula cans
-wax paper or parchment paper

Thank you for your continued support!

Art in the Park!

Friday morning we took our creativity outside!  Some students painted masterpieces on the fence while others drew with chalk.

Not a Box Project

Inspired by Caine's Arcade, we're using our imaginations to turn plain old cardboard into new and wonderful things!

We started by watching a clip of this video:

Then we read 

and

And now it is our turn to get creative!  Check back soon to see what we've created!

**If you have any large cardboard boxes to share please send them in with your student!  Thank you!**

Photo Day is Wednesday!

Get those smiles ready!  Photo day is tomorrow (Wednesday)!

Solid shirts in bright colours are recommended.

Hold In Place Drill today!

As is often the case at the beginning of the school year, we had another drill today!  Today we practiced "hold in place" where we remained in our classrooms with the doors locked and blinds drawn.

Everyone handled the drill very well!

September Newsletter

Here's a virtual look at our September newsletter that was sent home with students this week.

Please note the Terry Fox Run date has been changed to September 26th.

Welcome to Roywood!

This is our first year of full day Kindergarten.

Kindergarten hours are:

8:40 – 3:20

Lunch: 11:15 -12:45

Our extended lunch break is a great time to reconnect with your child.  We encourage all families to make arrangements for their child to go home for lunch.

Phys Ed

Each class will visit the gym 3 times per week. Students will require running shoes or other athletic shoe for physical education classes.

Ms. Karailiadis has lots of fun games and activities planned!

Music

Students will visit the music room once each week with Ms. Burdick.

Library

Ms. Sanchez-James will introduce students to a wide variety of literature in the library once each week.

Computers

Each week students will work in the computer lab and learn about technology with Ms.Tonoo.

Backpacks

Please send your child with a full sized backpack everyday!  It is important to establish the routine of bringing work and letters home from school! 

Spare Clothing

Accidents happen.  Send a full change of clothing (shirt, pants, underwear, socks) for your child to change into should their clothing become wet.  Spare clothing will be kept in their bags.

Indoor Shoes

Students require a pair of running shoes to wear indoors (these can also be used in gym class).  Shoes with laces are discouraged as they are difficult for students to independently tie.  Shoes can remain in the student’s cubby overnight.

Important Dates

September 12^th – Curriculum Night @ 5:00 pm

September 18^th – School Photo Day

September26th – Terry Fox Run

October 11^th – PA Day (No School)
October 14^th – Thanksgiving (No School)

Fire Drill!

We had our first fire drill this morning!  The drill went very smoothly, but the alarm and exit procedures can be overwhelming for students.

Ready? Set? GO!

We can't wait to get started in our classrooms!

Are you ready?

Here's what your student needs for a successful start:

-indoor running shoes (no laces) to be left at school and worn indoors only
-a healthy morning snack sent to school every day in the fabric "Roywood" communication pouch
-a full change of clothes (t-shirt, pants, underwear and socks) to be left at school in case of an accident
-a backpack

See you soon!